Belmont, Newton men indicted in Waltham murder case

Tuesday

Jun 17, 2014 at 5:48 PMJun 17, 2014 at 6:09 PM

By Eli Shermanesherman@wickedlocal.com

A Belmont and a Newton man, both arrested in connection with the murder of Waltham teen Tyler Zanco, were indicted last week and are to be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court Wednesday.Domingo Mendes, most recently listed as living in Belmont, is charged with murder, carrying a firearm, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.Taylor Poulin, of Newton, is charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, accessory after the fact, carrying a firearm, attempting to commit a crime, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, conspiracy to distribute a Class D substance (marijuana), two counts of possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance (marijuana) and a park zone violation.The two men originally faced charges in Waltham District Court, but were indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury late last week, which bumps the cases up to superior court.Both men were arrested earlier this year and charged in connection with what police say was a botched drug rip-off that resulted in the death of Zanco, 17, on March 20. Mendes is the alleged triggerman, according to police, but the gun was supposedly in Poulin’s possession.Police allege Mendes took the gun from Poulin and shot Zanco in the back at a Gardencrest Apartments parking lot.After the shooting, both suspects ran away and Poulin was arrested six days later in Maine. Mendes turned himself in to Waltham Police on April 3.According to a police affidavit in support of arresting the two suspects, Zanco and two friends had planned to set up and rip off Poulin in retaliation for a prior incident in which Poulin cheated Zanco’s cousin out of two ounces of marijuana. Mendes allegedly accompanied Poulin to the Gardencrest Apartments parking lot on Middlesex Circle.Police suspect Zanco tazed Poulin in the head with a stun gun before the two started fighting on the ground. Mendes saw the two fighting, came over and took a black revolver out of Poulin’s waistband and shot, according to the affadavit.Zanco was later pronounced dead at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.In Waltham District Court, just four charges were pressed against Poulin compared to the nine he now faces in superior court. Mendes faces one additional charge – conspiracy to commit armed robbery – in superior court.Both men pleaded not guilty during their Waltham District Court arraignments.